Abstract
Background This study examined the criterion validity of the online Active Australia Survey, using accelerometry as the criterion, and whether self-report bias was related to level of activity, age, sex, education, body mass index and health-related quality of life. Methods The online Active Australia Survey was validated against the GENEActiv accelerometer as a direct measure of activity. Participants (n = 344) wore an accelerometer for 7 days, completed the Active Australia Survey, and reported their health and demographic characteristics. A Spearman’s rank coefficient examined the association between minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity recorded on the Active Australia Survey and GENEActiv accelerometer. A Bland-Altman plot illustrated self-report bias (the difference between methods). Linear mixed effects modelling was used to examine whether participant factors predicted self-report bias. Results The association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reported on the online Active Australia Survey and accelerometer was significant (rs = .27, p < .001). Participants reported 4 fewer minutes per day on the Active Australia Survey than was recorded by accelerometry (95% limits of agreement −104 – 96 min) but the difference was not significant (t(343) = −1.40, p = .16). Self-report bias was negatively associated with minutes of accelerometer-recorded moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and positively associated with mental health-related quality of life. Conclusions The online Active Australia Survey showed limited criterion validity against accelerometry. Self-report bias was related to activity level and mental health-related quality of life. Caution is recommended when interpreting studies using the online Active Australia Survey.
Keywords
Physical activity, questionnaire, accelerometry, psychometrics
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2020
Volume
20
Issue
1
Publication Title
BMC Medical Research Methodology
Publisher
Springer Nature / BMC
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
43088
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council National Heart Foundation of Australia Australian Government
Grant Number
NHMRC Number : APP1080186, APP1125913
Grant Link
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1080186 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1125913
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Curtis, R. G., Olds, T., Plotnikoff, R., Vandelanotte, C., Edney, S., Ryan, J., & Maher, C. (2020). Validity and bias on the online active Australia survey: Activity level and participant factors associated with self-report bias. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 20, article 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-0896-4